Quick acting wrench or other clamping device



Patented Sept. 13, 1938 QUICK ACTING WRENCH OR OTHER CLALIP- ING DEVICEraolo Agudio, Turin, Italy Application July 15, 1936, Serial No. 90,643In Italy July 15, 1935 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a vise, adjustable Wrench or other clampingand holding tool having jaws movable freely lengthwise under a pull ordirect pressure which may be locked instantaneously in any position by aslight swing of the handle, for instance through The guide acting toolaccording to this invention comprises a spindle having a high pitchedthread engaging the inner thread on one of the jaws, said spindle may belocked in any angular position by means of a friction cone or the like,which is displaced longitudinally by turning a second threaded memberhaving a low pitched thread.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tool of the abovesaidkind, in which the handle for actuating the friction cone or the likeserves also as operating means for the longitudinal displacement of thejaws, which permits manipulation with one hand and makes it easier. Theworkman may hold the piece with one hand between the two jaws while withhis other hand he approaches or recedes the jaws from each other andlooks or unlocks them without abandoning the operating member.

It will be appreciated that the invention may be applied to any suitableembodiment, two preferred forms of which are illustrated by way ofexample in the annexed drawing.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a vise with movable front jaw inwhich the quick locking means is located.

Fig. 2 shows by way of example an adjustable wrench according to thisinvention.

With reference to Fig. 1, the movable jaw I is arranged in front and therear jaw 2 is secured to the support 3. An internal projection 2a of thefixed jaw 2 is provided with a high pitched female thread. A centralspindle 4 having a conical head 5 and a thrust washer 1 fitted betweenthe conical head 5 and a clamping ring 6 is threaded into the nut formedby said projection 2a. The spindle 4 is journaled by means of saidwasher l in a cylindrical recess of the movable jaw I; said recesshouses also a sleeve 8 which is displaceable endwise but preventedagainst rotation by a key 8a. The portion of the sleeve 8 surroundingthe conical head 5 is provided with a corresponding inner conicalfriction surface and, on its opposite side, with a low pitched threadinto which a screw 9 secured to the support Ill of the handle II isthreaded.

The member 9, I0 carries a collar I2 and turns therewith, while beingprevented from longitudinal displacement, in a circular groove providedon the inner face of the movable jaw I and is guided in said movement bymeans of an annular cover plate IS. The spindle 4 is protected in allpositions of the movable jaw I by a casing I4 integral with the movablejaw.

In the disengaged position shown in Fig. 1, where a small playoccurs'between the two conical surfaces of the members 5 and 8, themovable jaw I may be moved quickly by pushing or pulling lengthwise thesupport III by means of the handle II thus adjusting the distancebetween the two jaws to the piece to be set up. During these movementsthe high pitch of the threads of the spindle 4. and nut 2a allowsrotation of the spindle and its endwise displacement in regard of thefixed jaw, the washer I acting as a, thrust-bearing member of thespindle I in both directions of displacement. Notwithstanding the playhowever small between the two conical surfaces required for turning thespindle 4, the washer I may transmit the thrust and pull to the spindle4, being held against the shoulder of the movable jaw by the frictioncone 8. As soon as the position determined by the piece is reached, thethickness of this latter preventing any further longitudinaldisplacement, the friction cone member 8 is moved to the right byrotation of the screw 9 produced by a slight swing of the handle IIthrough the small space between the two conical surfaces, whereupon ittightens the conical head 5 thus locking the spindle 4 in its angularposition and, consequently, the movable jaw with relation to the fixedjaw. Each further swinging of the handle II will produce a, movement ofthe support III to the left and said support by means of its 001- lar I2will force the movable jaw I to approach the piece and tighten it.

In accordance with this axial displacement a clearance will be formedbetween the washer I and the inner shoulder of the movable jaw.

When it is desired to loosen the piece the friction cone member 8 ismoved to the left also through a very small arc of movement in theopposite direction of the handle II and is removed from the conical head5, so that the movable jaw is again free to be displaced longitudinallywhile the washer I being locked between the cone 8 and the innershoulder of the movable jaw I can withstand the thrust of the spindle 4in both directions. It will be noted that the washer I in its lockedposition is released from any strain.

The constructional form shown in Fig. 2 is particularly adapted for theapplication of the .in- 55 vention to adjustable wrenches and similartools. The movable jaw 2| is fitted by means of its tubular projection2|a in the tubular projection 22a of the fixed jaw 22. A rod |5 issecured to the jaw 2| and passes through the hollow threaded spindle 24,screwed into the projection 2|u. of the movable jaw, a support 38 for atubular handle 3| is rotatably mounted on the lower end of the rod |5;the tubular handle 3| is fitted on the projection 22a of the fixed jaw.The support 38 is connected by means of a sliding key I6 to the lowpitched screw 29 guided in the projection 22a by a pin i8 and annulargroove I8 in such a manner as to be free to rotate but prevented fromlongitudinal displacement with respect to the .screw 29. The low pitchedscrew 28 is threaded into the friction cone member 28 acting in turn onthe conical head 25 of the spindle 24. A key 2911 on the tubularprojection 22a guided in a groove on the member 28 prevents any relativerotation between the members 28 and 22a. The thrust washer 21 fittedbetween the conical head 25 and the clamping ring 28 on the spindle 24is provided with a shoulder on which bears one of the ends of arelatively strong coil spring 2141 resting at its other end on the frontsurface of the friction cone member 28. An inner shoulder 22b of thetubular casing 22a serves as a stop for the thrust bearing on ring 21.

The threads in the projection 2|a and on the spindle 24 are highpitched.

In the position shown in Fig. 2, that is to say when the conical head 25is removed from the friction cone member 28, the distance between thejaws 2| and 22 may be varied by displacing the tubular handle II, andconsequently, the jaw 2| lengthwise. The high pitch of the spindle 24allows rotation of the latter upon reciprocation of the parts 2|, 2|aproduced by the movement of the handle 3| acting upon 2|, 2|a throughthe parts 88 and I5. On pushing the jaw upwards, the thrust from thespindle 24 to the jaw 22 is transmitted by the upper edge of the head 25through the washer 21 to the inner shoulder 22b on the portion 22a ofthe jaw 22. On pulling the jaw 2| downwards, said thrust is transmittedby the clamping ring 28 to the upper edge of washer 21 and by the loweredge of the latter to the sleeve 28 and through the screw 29 to the pin|8 in the portion 22a of jaw 22. When the position corresponding to thethick ness of the nut 28 between the jaws is reached, the handle 3| isrotated with relation to the projection 22a. This rotation istransmitted through the support 88 and key Hi to the screw 28 threadedinto the friction cone 28 thus producing a downward displacement of thefriction cone 28 prevented from rotating by the key 29a, tightening ofthe conical head 25 and locking of the spindle 24 against angulardisplacements. As long as angular displacements of the spindle 24 areprevented, any endwise movement of the part 2|, 2|a or movable jaw ismade impossible.

Before the friction cone on the member 28 comes into contact with theconical head 25, the play between the two conical surfaces must be takenup and this causes the front surface of the cone member 28 to recede ashort distance from the ring 21 and the spring 21a to be slightlystretched, this latter continuing to hold the ring 21 against the stop22!) until the play is taken up. By this arrangement even when the nut28 is released from the jaws the distance between the jaws will not bealtered by a slight blow on the jaw 2|; which is very convenient when itis desired to place againthe nut 28 or another nut of the same sizebetween the jaws and is possible owing to the fact that the spring 21amaintains the two conical surfaces in contact with each other even whenthe nut has been removed, so that a blow on the jaw cannot displace itunless it is so strong as to overcome the tension of the spring 210.Practically inorder to displace a jaw with relation to the other it isnecessary to rotate the outer casing 8| and move thecone member 28backwards to an extent equal to that which had been necessary forlocking the spindle 24.

A similar arrangement may also be applied to the vises according to thisinvention.

What I claim is:

1. An adjustable wrench, vise ,or other clamping device of the characterdescribed, comprising the combination, with a fixed jaw and alongitudinally displaceable jaw, one of said jaws being provided with aninternal high-pitched thread, of a threaded spindle engaging saidinternal thread, a friction locking member in the other jaw for lockingsaid spindle in any angular position, a low pitched screw rotatable insaid other jaw independently of said spindle and controlling saidlocking member, a handle positively connected for rotation with saidlowpitched screw, and for longitudinal displacement with the movablejaw, and thrust bearing means disposed between said spindle and one ofthe jaws for permitting longitudinal displacement of the movable jaw inopposite directions.

2. An adjustable wrench, vise or other clamping device of the characterdescribed, comprising the combination, with a fixed jaw and alongitudinally displaceable jaw, the fixed jaw being provided with aninternal high pitched thread, of a threaded spindle engaging saidinternal thread and having an enlargement at one end thereof, thrustbearing means operatively engaged between said enlargement and saidmovable jaw to limit longitudinal displacement of the spindle, thrustbearing means disposed between said spindle and the movable jaw forpermitting longitudinal displacement of the movable jaw in oppositedirection, a friction locking member free to be displaced in the movablejaw for locking said spindle in any angular position, a low pitchedscrew rotatable in the movable jaw independently of said spindle andcontrolling said locking member and connected for endwise displacementwith the movable jaw, a handle, and a support for said handle, saidsupport being solidly connected with said low pitched screw.

3. An adjustable wrench, vise or other clamping device of the characterdescribed, comprising the combination, with a fixed jaw and alongitudinally displaceable jaw, the fixed jaw being provided with aninternal high pitched thread, of a threaded spindle engaging saidinternal thread, thrust bearing means disposed between said spindle andthe movable jaw, a conical head on said spindle converging towards thethreaded part of the spindle, a hollow member in the movable jaw, whichis free to be displaced endwise with respect to said movable jaw, and

i has an inner conical surface portion at one end thereof cooperatingwith said conical head, and an internal low-pitched thread, there beingmeans preventing rotation of said movable jaw with respect to saidhollow member, a screw engaging the thread in said hollow member andjournaled in the movable jaw and rotatable in- J y "anaemia. .i i

dependently of the spindle, and a handle operatively connected with saidscrew.

4. An adjustable clamping device of the'class described comprising afixed jaw, and a jaw movable with respect thereto, the movable jawhaving a high-pitched screw thread in the shank thereof, the fixed jawhaving a recess therein,

'a hollow threaded spindle having an enlarged portion, and engaging saidhigh-pitched thread, a friction locking member having low pitchedthreads thereon, and dispiaceable endwise in said recess and cooperatingwith said enlarged portion through said hollow spindle and connected to10 said handle and movable jaw.

PAOLO AGUDIO.

